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(3)
4-6
Following the death of her mom, Amy moves in with her uncle at a creepy funeral home. Across town, anxious Miles worries about everything--but mostly his aging grandfather and the fate of his family's bowling alley. A surprising friendship ensues, offering each middle schooler an unexpected path toward healing. A unique and lovely examination of the power of friendship to pull us from the depths of grief.
(3)
4-6
Kindness Club series.
Fashion designer Lucy Tanaka takes center stage in this second warmhearted installment about middle schoolers who form a club to perform acts of kindness. While her father is preoccupied with the foundering family bowling alley, Lucy tries to plan a party for a classmate who recently lost her mother. Well-rounded characters, authentic middle-school dialogue, and a light-handed message about empathy keep the story engaging.
24 pp.
| ABDO/SandCastle
| September, 2013
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-61783-842-2$15.95
(4)
K-3
SandCastle: Sports by the Numbers series.
These easy-to-read books superficially discuss different sports and their relationships to numbers. Chapters provide general sports information ("A golf course has either 9 or 18 holes") and word problems that test reader's ability to add and subtract. Additional facts and answers to the problems appear at the end. Cheery photos and mundane computer-generated illustrations accompany the kid-friendly, accessible text. Glos. Review covers these Sports by the Numbers titles: Bowling by the Numbers, Golf by the Numbers, Gymnastics by the Numbers, and Skateboarding by the Numbers.
40 pp.
| Candlewick
| September, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-6049-9$15.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Tony Fucile.
Mitchell is stoked when his dad takes him bowling, but knocking pins down proves more challenging than it looks. When frustration sets in, his dad suggests they be on the same team, and together they bowl a perfect strike. Energetic, retro-toned digitized cartoon illustrations express the allure of the lanes while a passionate Mitchell typifies every child's struggles with a new skill.
112 pp.
| Holt/Ottaviano
| June, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-8050-9076-5$12.99
(3)
1-3
Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut series.
"Doughnut-dog" Arnie has been adopted by Mr. Bing, not to be eaten but to be his friend. When they attend Mr. Bing's bowling tournament, Arnie and his anthropomorphized-object friends--bowling balls, a slice of pizza--must solve the mystery behind the usually talented Mr. Bing's bowling blunders. With humorous cartoons and dynamically laid-out text, this zany book will engage young readers.
(3)
4-6
Thirteen-year-old Lamar lives for bowling, so much so that he's easily convinced that joining up with a hustler to bowl for money will get him everything he wants. When his partner gets caught and their activities are exposed, Lamar has to make things right with his friends and family. Lamar's voice is quirky and authentic and his right-and-wrong struggles are diverting.
179 pp.
| Hyperion
| September, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-7868-1880-8$15.99
(4)
4-6
When the town council threatens to close down Bowl-a-Rama, best friends Ouchie and Squishie team up to save the alley and protect its owner from a mysterious psycho-clown. Gutman's latest book won't top any scales on character development or plot complexity, but it definitely fits the bill for a light, fast-paced, suspenseful read that reluctant readers will enjoy.